Communication and Person-Centred Behaviour Change

Abstract

This chapter presents critical components of the interaction between the professional and the person, needed to effectively support behaviour change. Most of these components are relational competencies assisted by communication skills. Relational competencies include person-centredness and shared decision-making, contributing to the person’s empowerment, a concept strongly linked with health literacy. Communication skills comprise the basic interchange and optimised linguistic features. Further, coping strategies to deal with negative emotions and psychosocial implications of chronic disease are summarised. This chapter also proposes an integrated approach (ABCD) for first and follow-up encounters in behaviour change interventions. The ABCD approach comprises four stages: setting the stage (A), establishing an information base (B), obtaining a commitment (C) and negotiating an intervention plan (D).